NHS Business Services Authority
The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) is a Special Health Authority of the Department of Health. It was created on 1 October 2005 following a review by the Department of Health of its "arm's length bodies". It began operating on 1 April 2006, bringing together five previously separate NHS business support organisations.[1] It provides a range of services to NHS organisations, NHS contractors and patients which include:
- NHS Prescription Services
- NHS Pensions
- Help With Health Costs
- Student Services
- NHS Dental Services
- European Health Insurance Card
- Supplier Management (including NHS Supply Chain)
- NHS Protect
It took over responsibility for issuing prescription charge exemption certificates and checking claims in September 2014. The system was changed so that people were required to renew their exemption certificates, even where they had been issued in respect of a life-long medical condition. If they claimed a free prescription they were issued with a fine of £132 if they did not have a valid exemption certificate.[2] Between September and December 2014, 18,074 penalty charge notices were issued to people without valid medical exemption certificates, even though they may not have been told the certificates had run out.[3]
References
- ↑ NHS Business Services Authority - About the NHSBSA
- ↑ "Diabetic hits out at NHS prescription fine". Mansfield Chad. 3 March 2014. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
- ↑ "Diabetes prescription fines averted". Boots Web MD. 20 March 2015. Retrieved 24 March 2015.